HARBOUR AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1058, 22 February 1911, Page 8

HARBOUR AFFAIRS.

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING. Tho' ordinary, monthly meeting of tho Harbour Board was held last evening, Mr. R. Fletcher presiding. There were also present: Messrs. W-.-.T.-'Hildrcth. H. C. Tewsley, C. AV. Jones, T. M. Wilford, M.P., F. G. Bolton, Cohen, J. W. i M'Eivari, and .T.iDaniell. TJi3 bank pass books showed a debit balance of JGlSiilS 10s. lid. on current account, Imprest Account credit .£Bl3 18s. Cd., on fixed deposit XH1.138 10s. Accounts amounting to iM.GGI Gs. 7d. were passed for payment. '"«.., Tho chairman reported on tho official interchange of visits between officers of tho French warship Kersnint and tho board, nnd thanked. Mr,. C.W. Jones for acting as deputy-chairman in hi» abThe Wharves and Accounts Committeo recommended: ■ . ,'■- , That tenders be called, closing at March meeting, for annual supplies and services To adopt the Engineer's,report with reference to Hib removal of tho latrines in "P" store building and tho provision of a transhipping office on tho ground floor in their place. > , , The recommendations were adopted. .AN UNSOUND WHAEF. , : Tho Wharves and Accounts Committee also sent forward tho following report trom.the board's engir.eor banks) upon the copdition of. the ,A\ 00l Wharf, which lies between tho Eailway AVharf and the ferry jetty:- I havo to report having made an examination of the Wool AVharf. and having bad a careful inspection nf the timbers made. It was found that the beams, caps,

etc., on that,- portion- of tho wharf which was crjctod about 1891. nro: very'much decayed and unsrmnd. Tho timber in the beams and- caps "is "birch, (!io pile? aro. of fotara, and - so fur as could bo ascertained aro sound.' The birch stringers iiro now in such a bad condition that- I havo deemed it advisable to prohibit tho passago of any heavy loads on this, whart. "It is necessary that tho reconstruction of tho'.superstructure-should-be-jnt in hand as soon as tho necessary material can bo.obtained. "I-would suggest that when the-work is being dono a portion of the..shore-, ward eiul of tho wharf adjoining the breastwork should bo lowered and blocked to provide for the heavy traffic which passes along tho breastwork. Assuming that tho timber c.in b© , obtai-ied at tbo prices now ruling I estimate iho cost of renewing tho superstructure,, including wales, braces, metal sheathing, and blocking the portion •mentioned, at .iS'2OO. The engineer considers that the work should be executed by tho board's own staff in' preference to letting a r. ntract for it,, inasmuch as portions of the old timber which may be.found capable of further use can be utilised, and the inconvenience caused by tho ucrtluue of vessels minimised." ■ ■ ■■ It was agreed that the work recommended should bo'carried 'out by the board's'staff under tho supervision of tho engiMer - , TENDEHS. ; .; •. Four tenders were received for Temoval and stacking of piles, etc.', at the dock site It was decided to accept the Mwost render if it was. found to be in order. The en°ineer's estimate of the cost of tho work-is' JCIOOO. '...,, . • / .■ ■ ; EXHIBITION BUILDINGS. On tho recommendation of the Wharves and Accounts Committee it was decided to adopt thn draft agreement approved by the board's solicitors between .the board

and the Wellington Industrial Association in connection with tho loan of the "J" and "V" wool stores fpr the forthcoming exhibition; the association to submit the names of two approved sureties who will, together with Aβ association, enter into a joint and several ti-r.d of .£IOOO for tho due' performance of the conditions of the agreement i the S'™"* and the association not to bo WaWe fer damage caused by earthquake. It was also decided to appme -n its entirely tho board's-present custom with regard to ledger accounts. ELECTING TIIE CHAIRMAN. Exnctlv four minutes were occupied by, theHavbour Board last evening in transacting the business of its statutory annual meeting. The secretary (Mr.. H. b. Nicholls) who presided explained mat the meeting was necessary owing to- ..notations introduced by the Harbours Amendment Act of last year. Imder rh..; Ac. certain sections in tho Harbours Ac. of 1908 were repealed, but some hi fie repeals, notably those bearing an tae hoction of n chairman, did not become fyuative until tho election of a new bo-,'d in April nest. As thinss stood it had hecome necessary to elect a chairman to hold office between this-dato and ilu.t of the firft meeting of the new lmrd in Mav when a chairman. would ~ag.ua W S Concluding, Mr. Nioln.ls invited nominations for the positnn of chairman dnrin* the period he had n.n-rf. Mr C W. Jones, remarking that he rejwrded the occasion as purely formal and not cm* for speech-making, nominated Mr. R. Fletcher as.chairman of the board. . • ', ,' . Mr."" J. -Darnell seconded. JTo other nominaHons -wore made and Mr Fl»tcher was aeclared duly elected. * Mr Fletcher said that he intended, to make a statement, next month in regard to the-vfar'e work. On he would simply exoross his thanKs lo the 1-oard for reappointing him as Uiairaian.